Lubbock, Texas (KCBD) – we have an updating for our investigation for years, warning signs.
Jared Castillo appeared to the 106th district court in Gaine district on Thursday after being charged with a crime charge of theft of property.
It was the first time Todd Danley had seen Castillo since 2022 when he said Castillo received his money and stopped receiving his calls.
“He saw me going inside and he immediately looked on the floor,” Danley said.
Danley owns a harvesting business of harvest only north of the seminole. He and a neighboring business, Big Starr Electric, decided to share the cost of an LED sign.
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They said Castillo, the owner of the Led Liquidator, made them an agreement.
“We got a 10 percent discount and accelerated carriers if we were to pay completely, in the front,” Danley said.
On August 24, 2022, John Wall, Big Starr Electric owner, and Danley wrote Castillo checks for about $ 8,900 each.
“Here we are about two and a half years later without any signs, no return,” Danley said.
That can change.
A great jury of Gaine district has sued Castillo for theft.
He was ordered to appear before the Judge on Thursday, where his lawyer, Marlin Carter, asked for more time to enter into a plea agreement or to go to court.
“We believe this is a case of misunderstanding and we believe that Mr. Castillo will be able to prove his innocence in a law court,” Carter said.
Danley stands next to his statement.
“For me, it’s cut and dry. He received a check from me and a check from Big Starr Electric and did not give a product, ”Danley said.
This is not the first time Castillo has been sued for theft.
In July 2024, Castillo pleaded guilty to stealing more than $ 10,000 from St. Luka’s Church in Lubbock.
The pastor said the money was for a deposit in a LED Castillo sign never surrendered.
Castillo was sentenced to six months at the Lubbock District Detention Center on credit for the time served. He also had to lose the license of any contractor he can hold.
It is a result that gives Danley hope in his case.
“I work hard for my money and he essentially stole that money from me, so I will make sure we get some kind of recourse whether it’s monetary or prison time,” Danley said.
Big Starr Electric has then purchased an LED mark from another company.
Danley said he did not join that purchase.
“I’ve had good enough to try to get a sign. By going down on that road, I didn’t want to end up again there,” Danley said.
Through our investigation for years, we have learned on other accusations against Castillo who never made him in court.
Monte Neil owns BBQ weekends in PlainView.
He said he paid Castillo more than $ 3,000 for a sign that Castillo never delivered.
Sarisa Smith owns Texas Rock and Flagstone in Lubbock. Smith said she paid Castillo $ 10,000 for a sign and while he delivered it, it was not what he ordered.
“She played a Chinese movie for about three weeks. We cannot understand how to remove it. No one knew how to install the software. It was everything based in China, ”Smith said.
While those alleged victims were not lucky with their cases, the district lawyer for the 106th district said his team is ready to move forward.
“We will do our best to see that justice, which is our duty under the Constitution,” Philip Mack Furlow said.
The new Castillo admission deadline is planned for February 13, 2025.
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